What Can I Do With a Major In Russian?

We are here to help you
explore majors and careers!

Erica Tealey
Erica Tealey
Career Counselor Liaison
Dept. of German, Nordic,
Slavic & Dutch

Get career help or schedule
an appointment.

On this page:

Explore this Major

Learn more about a major in Russian. All liberal arts degrees help CLA students develop their Core Career Competencies, and Russian majors develop specific skills that are applicable to lots of different careers. These skills include strong verbal and written communication skills, ability to formulate clear and persuasive messages, and the ability to speak another language.

Students who take the SuperStrong Interest Inventory receive a three-letter interest code, which identifies their top three areas of interest, work activities, potential skills, and personal values. The interest code "ASE" is often associated with this major, however, the SuperStrong assessment can help you understand how your interests connect to a variety of majors and career options. You can learn more about common employer types and occupations associated with this major. You can also see CLA specific examples of alumni careers below.

Internship & Job Search Websites

Student Groups

Professional Organizations

Graduate Programs in Slavic Languages

This is a small sample of programs alumni have gone onto, to find graduate programs in this field, search the Grad School Directory or Peterson's Guide.

  • MA, Slavic Languages & Literature - University of Michigan
  • PhD, Slavic Languages & Literature - University of Michigan
  • MA/PhD, Modern Russian History - Indiana University Bloomington

Alumni Career Examples

Below is a small sampling of what alumni with this major have pursued, organized by the most common career fields they go into (although keep in mind that there are alumni in all eight of the career fields). You can also utilize the LinkedIn's Alumni Tool and the Maroon and Gold Network to further explore alumni career pathways and connect directly with professionals.

Click to expand each gray box below for opportunities pursued by alumni in this major! 

Education

Note *Asterisks denote that further education and/or training is often required

Internships

  • Distinguished Undergraduate Research Intern - University of Minnesota
  • First Year Experience Team Supervisor -  University of Minnesota
  • Office Assistant/Peer Advisor - University of Minnesota
  • Fellow - Fulbright Program in Ukraine
  • Assessment Development Intern - Educational Testing Service (ETS)

Entry-Level

  • Youth Development Specialist/Community Specialist - YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities
  • Substitute ESL Teacher - Hmong American Partnership
  • Interim Program Coordinator - Vistas In Education

Experienced

  • Teacher - St. Croix Lutheran High School*
  • Visiting Assistant Professor - Reed College*
  • Interim Program Coordinator - Vistas in Education
  • Professor of Slavic Languages and Literatures - Harvard University*
  • Law Librarian and Legal Research Instructor - William Mitchell College of Law*
  • Lead Teacher - Nasha Shkola
  • Community Programs Director - YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities
Tech

Note *Asterisks denote that further education and/or training is often required

Entry-Level

  • Consultant - IBM
  • Client-Side Software Engineer & Team Lead

Experienced

  • Principal Software Engineer - Nerdery Interactive Labs*
  • Principal Software Engineer*
  • Technology Manager*
  • Scalehouse Operator - Resource Recovery Technologies, LLC*
  • President - Novii Technology Solutions*
  • President - Mobile Lifestyles, Inc.*
  • Chief Technology Officer - eblaze*
  • Chief Technology Officer - Bizideo.tv*

Graduate Programs

  • MS, GIS, Software Engineering, Urban Information Systems - Minnesota State University, Mankato
Government & Law

Note *Asterisks denote that further education and/or training is often required

Entry-Level

  • Management Analyst - Minnesota Department of Human Services
  • Program Associate - Nexus Community Partners
  • Board Member, Asian Pacific Endowment - St. Paul Foundation

Experienced

  • Press Attache - US Embassy Bucharest
  • Senior Public Health Specialist/Youth Intervention Coordinator/Project Director - City of Minneapolis
  • Immigration Services Officer - US Citizenship and Immigration Services
  • Program Director, - Nexus Community Partners
  • Foreign Service Officer - USAID

Graduate Programs

  • MSFS - Georgetown
  • MA, Public Policy, Foreign Policy - University of Minnesota, Humphrey School
Healthcare & Science

Note *Asterisks denote that further education and/or training is often required

Internships

  • Chiropractic Office Assistant - Chanhassen Wellness Chiropractic
  • Volunteer - Southside Community Health Services

Entry-Level

  • English Teacher - Peace Corps of the United States
  • Healthcare Administrator - Private Health Administrators
  • Lifestyle Coach/Diabetes Prevention Educator - YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities
  • Advantage Services Coordinator - CommonBond Communities

Experienced

  • Community Health Specialist - Hennepin County Medical Center
  • ABO certified Optician - Eyewest Vision Clinic*
  • Mental Health Practitioner - POR Emotional Wellness*
  • Senior Consulting Cardiologist - Minneapolis Heart Institute*
  • Emergency Room Technician - Regions Hospital*

Graduate Programs

  • MA, Social Work - Augsburg College
  • MD, Medicine - Yale University
Business

Note *Asterisks denote that further education and/or training is often required

Entry-Level

  • ESL/EFL Teacher - POLY School
  • Relocation Consultant - TGA Inc.
  • Language Instructor - Karelian State Pedagogical University
  • Minnesota Scheduler - U.S. Senator Dave Durenberger
  • On-air Personality - Clear Channel
  • Director of Guest Services - The Western Management Development Center
  • Sales Planning Manager - Green Foods KK
  • Marketing Designer - The Manhattan Toy Company

Experienced

  • Associate Consultant - Aeritae Consulting Group
  • Staff of Secretariat - IPBA
  • Retirement Counselor - Transamerica
  • Executive Assistant - Senator Pat Roberts
  • Senior Business Analyst - Corporate Sales Ops
  • Director of Front Office - Embassy Suites Santa Ana
  • Medical Claims Representative - Progressive Insurance
  • Leadership Coach - Saudi Telecom Company
  • Marketing Operations & Demand Generation - Lyons Consulting Group
Arts

Note *Asterisks denote that further education and/or training is often required

Internships

  • Volunteer - Soap Factory Gallery
  • Volunteer Interpreter - Arrive Ministries
  • Translation Intern and Editor - Studio Lenfilm

Entry-Level

  • Docent - The Museum of Russian Art
  • Objects Cataloguer - The American Swedish Institute
  • Guitar Player - Heiruspecs, Big Trouble
  • Contract Interpreter - Minnesota Language Connection
  • Associate Director of Web Communications - AACRAO

Experienced

  • Registrar - Arca Artium, Hill Museum and Manuscript Library

Graduate Programs

  • MA, Museum Studies - University of Leicester

 

The College of Liberal Arts Career Services and the University of Minnesota has no control or responsibility for the: (a) quality or safety of any experiential learning opportunity/position descriptions or (b) the application, hiring practices, or EEO/AA status of any of the organizations listed here. We encourage students to use precaution when applying to, interviewing at, or participating in volunteer, internship, job, or research programs outside of the University. These opportunities are not affiliated with the University of Minnesota and have not been fully vetted.